Luggage case

ABSTRACT

A luggage case of the type for carrying papers and the like having first and second molded sections with valence strips thereon. The valence strips are relatively narrow and are engageable with each other when the sections are closed to define the case. One of the valence strips has a handle retainer which extends into overlying relation with the other valence strip when the case is closed. The handle retainer is operative to bring the two valence strips into mating contact with each other if they are misaligned due to the shape of the molded sections. The handle for the luggage case is supported on the valence so that it is positioned at the mid-portion of the case.

United States Patent [191 Cahill, Jr.

11] 3,796,291 [451 Mar. 12, 1974 LUGGAGE CASE [75] lnventor: Thomas J. Cahill, Jr., Wilmington,

Del.

[73] Assignee: Rapid-American Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: June 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 264,221

[52] US. Cl. 190/49, 190/58 R [51] Int. Cl. A45c 13/36 [58] Field of Search 190/28, 49, 50, 57, 58 R, 190/58 A, 58 B, 58 C, 56

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,029 5/1887 Weidemann 190/49 441.957 l2/189O Hummel 190/49 1.772981 8/1930 Berger-Stalder 190/28 3,185,272 5/1965 Chance 190/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 190/49 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Seidel, Gonda &

Goldhammer I [5 7] ABSTRACT A luggage case of the type for carrying papers and the like having first and second molded sections with valence strips thereon. The valence strips are relatively narrow and are engageable with each other when the sections are closed to define the case. One of the va-,

lence strips has a handle retainer which extends into overlying relation with the other valence strip when the case is closed. The handle retainer is operative to bring the two valence strips into mating contact with each other if they are misaligned due'to the shape of the molded sections. The handle for the luggage case is supported on the valence so that it is positioned at the mid-portion of the case.

' I' Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LUGGAGE CASE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to luggage cases and more particularly to luggage cases of the type comprised of molded sections. 1

Luggage cases are typically manufactured from two molded sections. On their facing edges, each of the molded sections is provided with a valence strip. The valence strips have mutually engaging means such as a tongue and groove so that the sections may be held together in alignment when the case is closed.

Usually, luggage cases which are used by businessmen and others for carrying papers and materials during the work day are rather small and narrow. Typically, they have a top section and a bottom section. The bottom section is considerably larger than the top section. The handle is secured to the larger section. It is positioned so that when the case is closed, the handle is at the mid-portion of its top wall.

Where the two sections of the luggage case have been identical in size the handle has been mounted in a manner similar to that shown in Stein US Pat. No. 2,545,501 issued Mar. 20, .1951. However, that patent fails to recognize the problem associated with molded luggage sections where one is deeper than the other.

The subject invention relates to inexpensive cases comprised of molded luggage sections. The sections have relatively narrow valences which are brought into alignment with each other when the case is closed. Additionally, the handle appears to be at the mid-portion of the case when it is closed. These results are accomplished by the use of a handle retainer which is secured to one of the valence strips. The retainer is of sufficient width so that it overlies the other valence strip. Thus, the handle may be mounted on the retainerso that it lies substantially at the mid-portion of the luggage case. Additionally, the retainer serves to guide the valence strips on each of the sections into mating engagement with each other if they are misaligned due to changing shape of the molded sections during the molding operation.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawing an embodiment which is presently preferred; it being understood however that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a luggage case constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the luggage case illustrated in FIG. 1.

A luggage case constructed in accordance with a presently preferred form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. It has a first molded section 12 having a top wall 14, end wall 16 and side wall 18. A second molded section 20 also has a top wall 22, end walls 24 and a side wall 26.

The two top walls 14 and 22 and the two end walls 16 and 24 combine to form a top wall 28 and end walls 30 for the luggage case.

The two molded sections are interconnected by hinges (not shown). Each of the sections has a valence strip 34 and 36 which engage each other when the case is closed. The case is retained closed by locks 40.

A handle 42 is supported on the top wall 28 of the case.

Typically, cases such as that shown in FIG. 1 are formed with one of the molded sections being deeper than the other. Thus, in FIG. 1, the first molded section 12 may be considered to be the bottom of the case. Its top and side walls are somewhat wider than the top and side walls of the second molded section 20. The handle is mounted on the case so that it appears to lie along the top wall of the case 28 at the mid-portion between side walls 18 and 26.

To this extent, valence strip 34 is provided with a slot 46 into which the edge of first molded section 12 is inserted. The valence strip has a wall 48 which is disposed in substantially right angle relation to the valence strip. The wall supports a tongue 50 which projects outwardly from an intermediate portion of the wall.

The other valence strip 36 includes a slot 54 in which the second molded section 20 is received. Valence strip 36 has a groove 56 formed therein which'engages and receives the tongue 50 when the'molded sections are assembled. The groove is defined by a second wall 58 having two spaced outwardly projecting lips 60 disposed in substantially parallel relation to the valence strip.

The means for mounting the handle comprises a handle retainer 62 which is relatively long and narrow. However it is of sufficient width so that when it is secured to one valence strip it overlies the other. To this extent, the retainer 62 has two spaced openings 64 disposed to one side of its longitudinal axis. Fasteners which are to retain the handle retainer on the valence strip are received in openings 64.

The handle retainer 62 may comprise a generally flat plate 66 having an elongated flattened mid-portion 70 with downwardly facing bights 72 at each end. The outer most leg 74 on each bight is provided with a downwardly facing notch 76. The flattened midportion 70 is provided with two spaced openings 78. The handle 42 has two oppositely facing legs 82 which support inwardly facing trunnion bearing surfaces 84 which have an enlarged fiat discs 86 at their ends.

The handle retainer 62 is assembled on the case at substantially the mid-portion of top wall 28. While the handle is not precisely at the mid-portion of the top, it is aligned with the valence and is so close to the center of the top wall that it appears to be at exactly that position.

The'handle is mounted on the top wall of the case at substantially its mid-portion by inserting the trunnion bearing surfaces within the notches 76 on bight 72. The notches are of sufficient depth so that the handle is free to rotate about an axis defined by the trunnion bearing surfaces 84. The flattened midportion 70 of flat plate 64 is operative to guide the two luggage sections into alignment when the case is closed. In this configuration, the trunnion bearing surfaces are constrained in the notches 76 by the valence strip.

If preferred, a separate guide plate 87 may be interposed between the valence strip and flat plate 66. While such a guide plate requires the introduction of a separate element, it offers the advantage of isolating the trunnion discs 86 from the valence strip. Additionally the guide plate will have a bias downwardly toward the valence strips. This tends to improve the effectiveness of the guide plate in bringingth'e valence strips into alignment. The guide plate 87 may comprise an elongated flat member which may have rounded ends. -It has two spaced openings 88 which are alignable with openings 78 in flattened mid-portion 70. The openings to one side of its lonthe handle retainer are defined by the last mentioned -mzen 7.82 8 v As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the guide plate and flat plate project across the juncture of the two valences so that the handle which is centrally positioned on the handle retainer 62 is aligned therewith.

A cover plate 92 having a snap fitting relation with the handle retainer 62 is attached thereto for cosmetic purposes.

it should be noted that the handle retainer 62, in addition to functioning to centrally position the handle on the luggage case, also isoperative to guide the female valence strip 36 into engagement with the male valence strip. Thus, the edges of the molded sections may shrink or become distorted as a result of the molding process. The valence strips 34 and 36 will be misaligned since they follow the contour of the molded sections. Therefore, the retainer 62 tends to bring the valence strip 36 into engagement with the valence strip 34. This is accomplished by the sliding action of lip 60 against the lower surface of the retainer 62. That lower surface may be defined by flattened mid-portion 70 or by guide plate 87.

It should be observed that when the luggage case is closed, not only is tongue 50 in groove 56 but one of the lips 60 is within a groove defined by the side wall of the tongue 50 and the bottom of the guide plate 64.

While the invention has been described with reference to one embodiment thereof, it is apparent that many other forms and embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art in view of theforcgoing descripl. A case comprising top and bottom sections, eachof said sections having at least a top wall and a side wall, said top walls and side walls on said sections defining the top wall and side walls of said case when said sections are joined to close said case, each of said sections having a valence strip on its peripheral edge, said valence strips being mutually engageable when they are aligned to close said case, means'for'mounting a handle on said top wall of said case so that it lies substantially intermediate said side walls, said'means comprising a flat'plate, said flat plate being mounted on the valence strip on one of said se'ctionsysaid flat plate extending past said last named valence strip so' that when said case is 'closed,'it overlies said othervalencestrip and is disposed-on said top wall intermediate said side-walls,

and a handle coupled to said flat plate.

2. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat plate includes handle supporting means, anda' handle supported in said handle supporting means.

3. A case as defined in claim 2including a guide plate, said guide plate being disposed intermediate said flat plate and said valence strip, and said guide plate extends past said valence strip so that when said case is closed, it overlies said other valence strip.

4. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein said top walls on said sections are of different widths.

5. A case as defined 'in'claim 1 wherein one of said valence strips defines a tongue, and the other valence strip defines a groove, said tongue and groove being in engagement when said case is closed, and said flat plate is mounted on said other .valence strip.

6. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said valence strips has a wall disposed in substantially right angle relation to said valence strip, a tongue, said tongue projecting from an intermediate-portion of said wall, said other valence having a groove mating with said tongue, said groove being defined by a second wall strips are misaligned due to the molding of said sections, the improvement comprising a flat plate mounted on one of said valences, said flat plate being of sufficent width so that it extends past said one valence and guides said other valence into mating engagement therewith. 

1. A case comprising top and bottom sections, each of said sections having at least a top wall and a side wall, said top walls and side walls on said sections defining the top wall and side walls of said case when said sections are joined to close said case, each of said sections having a valence strip on its peripheral edge, said valence strips being mutually engageable when they are aligned to close said case, means for mounting a handle on said top wall of said case so that it lies substantially intermediate said side walls, said means comprising a flat plate, said flat plate being mounted on the valence strip on one of said sections, said flat plate extending past said last named valence strip so that when said case is closed, it overlies said other valence strip and is disposed on said top wall intermediate said side walls, and a handle coupled to said flat plate.
 2. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat plate includes handle supporting means, and a handle supported in said handle supporting means.
 3. A case as defined in claim 2 including a guide plate, said guide plate being disposed intermediate said flat plate and said valence strip, and said guide plate extends past said valence strip so that when said case is closed, it overlies said other valence strip.
 4. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein said top walls on said sections are of different widths.
 5. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said valence strips defines a tongue, and the other valence strip defines a groove, said tongue and groove being in engagement when said case is closed, and said flat plate is mounted on said other valence strip.
 6. A case as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said valence strips has a wall disposed in substantially right angle relation to said valence strip, a tongue, said Tongue projecting from an intermediate portion of said wall, said other valence having a groove mating with said tongue, said groove being defined by a second wall disposed in substantially right angle relation to said other valence strip and two spaced outwardly projecting lips disposed in substantially parallel relation to said valence strip, said flat plate being mounted on said valence strip supporting said tongue, and one of said projecting lips is received between said flat plate and said tongue when said case is closed.
 7. In a case of the type having first and second molded sections, and said sections are provided with peripheral male and female valence strips which are engageable when said case is closed and said valence strips are misaligned due to the molding of said sections, the improvement comprising a flat plate mounted on one of said valences, said flat plate being of sufficent width so that it extends past said one valence and guides said other valence into mating engagement therewith. 